A decision on Ely's Southern Bypass plans is expected next month – and the £30 million scheme finally looks set to be given the green light.

Cambridgeshire County Council's planning committee will be meeting to decide the fate of the mammoth proposals on Monday, September 8.

Helen Wass, the authority's principal planning officer, is recommending that the committee approves the bypass, which has now been in the pipeline for more than a decade.

In her report, she said: "The proposed bypass scheme will alleviate congestion problems whilst also making the area safer by reducing road and potential rail accidents, increasing economic benefits by reducing journey times, and helping to facilitate the future development of the Station Gateway proposals. Construction is anticipated to last for 15 months.

"Not only is the bypass important in supporting movement of strategic traffic, it is also important in terms of supporting plans for the city, and ensuring more trips can be made by public transport.

"The station area currently suffers from congestion and this area needs to be more accessible and the station itself needs capacity for more trips.

"The rail industry is already planning for increased services and longer trains through Ely. "However, traffic congestion is a disincentive for some trips into the Ely town and Station Gateway areas from the A142 Soham direction, and development trips would only seek to worsen conditions further."

A final decision on the proposals was due to be made in March, but had to be put back as a result of objections lodged by English Heritage, who say the road will have a detrimental affect on the views of Ely Cathedral and the surrounding countryside.

But Mrs Wass said: "Overall, we consider that there is a compelling case to support the development of the bypass as it will lead to substantial benefits to the future of Ely and the surrounding area.

"In particular, we consider that those benefits will significantly outweigh the attendant adverse impacts on the setting of the cathedral and visual quality of the southern river corridor."

The meeting is taking place at the county council's headquarters in Shire Hall, Cambridge, at 10am and members of the public are welcome.